Renault-Nissan executives planned secret Ghosn payout via Dutch company
Bosses at Renault and Nissan planned to pay part of Carlos Ghosn’s salary through Dutch holding company Renault-Nissan BV (RNBV), according to documents seen by Reuters.
Senior executives at the two car manufacturers, including Renault’s general secretary Mouna Sepehri, reportedly proposed the scheme to pay Ghosn’s Nissan compensation in 2010.
The revelations come as the former chairman faces charges of financial misconduct, including the underreporting of his salary. Ghosn and former Nissan representative director Greg Kelly have been in custody in Tokyo since 19 November.
In an email to Sepehri sent on 22 April 2010, seen by Reuters, Kelly wrote: “I greatly appreciate the work you have done to analyse whether part of the chief executive’s compensation can be paid by RNBV without disclosing it publicly.”
In 2017, Renault-Nissan bosses developed plans to pay bonuses worth millions of euros to Ghosn and other alliance executives via a Dutch service company, Reuters reported.
Renault acting chief executive Thierry Bollore, Nissan chief executive Hiroto Saikawa and Renault general secretary Sepehri were reportedly among those included in emails and meetings relating to the bonus plan.
The reports come as Nissan faces scrutiny over its handling of Ghosn’s pay. Investigators are probing a so-called ‘CEO reserve’ used by the former chairman, as well as the role of Dutch subsidiaries.
The scandal has rocked the foundations of the alliance between Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi.
Renault’s interim boss Bollore has called for a full Nissan shareholder meeting amid rising tensions between the car companies. But Nissan chief Saikawa has failed to organise a meeting with Bollore this week, a source told Reuters.
Renault declined to comment. Nissan has been contacted for comment.